Lemongrass cultivation showed a new path of economic empowerment to the tribal farmers of Korea district

Under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme, intercultural cultivation of lemongrass with plantation under the supervision of scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra has shown a new path of economic empowerment to the tribal farmers of Korea district. On the request of five farmers of Ratga village, the team of Krishi Vigyan Kendra prepared a proposal for intercultural cultivation of lemongrass and sweet potato between the mass fruit plantations. Implementation of this proposal started in the month of May 2020 with the support of farmers’ self-confidence and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. This work started in the midst of Corona Mahāmari provided employment opportunities to these farmers as well as other villagers of the village. During the lock-down period, providing wages of 3076 man-days to 53 MGNREGA workers, wages of 5 lakh 62 thousand 400 were paid. Senior scientist RS Rajput of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, who provided technical guidance in this major project of economic empowerment of these five farmers, said that according to the quality of the land of the farmers, fruitful plants were planted here and as intercrops. Lemongrass (Cauvery species), sweet potato (Indira orange, Indira madhur, Indira Nandani, Bhadra, Ratna species) have been cultivated. He further stated that the first harvesting of lemongrass was done in August 2020. Once lemongrass can be cultivated for 4 to 5 years and can be harvested 4 to 5 times at an interval of 60 to 70 days each year. Forming a productive group of farmers in the district, oil extraction units have also been established through them. Raw materials are being obtained from this unit in the form of essential oils. So far in the project, 60 thousand rupees have been sold from sale of 60 tonne leaves of lemongrass, while it has earned an income of 81 thousand rupees from the sale of 1 lakh 8 thousand pieces of slips. Apart from this, by selling 52,500 pieces of sweet potato (sweet potato wine cutting), he got a profit of 91 thousand 875 rupees. In the coming days, this group will also get additional income from sweet potato crops and planted fruit plants by layering, cutting, grafting and selling new seedlings of high quality prepared by seeds. Today, this project has become an important source of regular income for them.